There are millions of mobile applications on all the app stores combined and they are increasing in number exponentially. However, this does not mean that all the apps out there are safe. In fact, the maximum number of mobile applications which are uploaded on app stores do not fulfil the basic app security criteria to safeguard the app against threats.
There are known threats such as faulty server controls, Lack or binary protection, Insecure data storage, insufficient transport layer protection, broken cryptography, unintended data leakage, poor authentication, etc. to every mobile application. And to safeguard all the apps against threats like these is a highly crucial need of the hour.
These threats to critical user data can be easily avoided is the mobile app developers and mobile app development companies follow some simple practices at the development and testing stages. Some of these practices are as given below:
Securing the code of the application:The practice of encryption is the best when it comes to code security. Source code tests can be very well used to detect vulnerabilities.
Making the backend secure:Servers must take serious steps to ensure security to prevent data breaches and unauthorized user access. Additionally, there must be proper verification of the APIs. Along with these practices, encryption via SSL, TLS and VPN can be crucial in providing an extra security layer.
Application testing:Along with testing of the functionality and usability of the application, it is very important to test the security of the app as well. Using emulators for operating systems, browsers and devices can prove to be a great help in performance testing of the mobile app.
Securing the payment portals:One of the most vulnerable points of attack is the payment gateway. It is very important to protect applications and implement risk-aware capital transactions. For doing this, the app can be coded to measure data access parameters such as IP velocity and location of the user. This will make secure payments and database transactions a priority.
Improving User Authentication:As much as mobile app security is a paramount issue at the development level, it is as important a problem at the user level also. For ensuring the impenetrable security of the application, users have to enable strong passwords for a secure authentication. There are third-party authentication tools available on app stores that can help the users to add an extra layer of security to their mobile applications.
There are many more methods which can prove to be helpful for both developers and users. Securing and safeguarding the personal data is very important whether it is at the mobile app development stage of at user level.
For knowing more about mobile app security, visit - Steps to Integrate App Security into Mobile Application Development
